WINGED FOOT: Naples' Danielle Avery wins annual scholar-athlete award

Naples High's Danielle Avery was named the winner of the 24th annual Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at the Waldorf Astoria Naples.

Video by Adam Fisher

Dania Maxwell/Staff
Danielle Avery of Naples High School poses for pictures after wining the 24th annual Winged Foot Scholar Athlete Award at the Waldorf Astoria on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 in Naples, Fla. Avery holds a 4.76 GPA and has a total of 9 varsity letters in soccer, cross country and track. She is also part of the national honor society. The Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award is a recognizes Collier County high school students who reflect high standards of sportsmanship and academic achievement.

NAPLES - Naples' Danielle Avery thought she had a chance of winning the Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award, but she tried to keep it out of her mind as she stood on stage with 11 other finalists.

That made it all the more heartwarming when Avery's name was called as the winner of the 24th annual award Wednesday night at Waldorf Astoria Naples.

"I'm still shaking," said Avery, who had one of the top 800-meter times in the country and will run cross country and track at LSU. "I'm really surprised. Not that I didn't think I was going to get it, but I wasn't counting on it either."

"She has a stride longer than she is tall, and the heart and desire to go with it," Naples High track coach Mary Beth Watkins said. "She certainly deserves it. This is just kind of icing on the cake."

Avery becomes the third Naples High student-athlete in four years to win the coveted award, joining A.J. Ervin (2011) and Ryan Iamurri (2010). She's the eighth Golden Eagle to win or share the award; Jack Swanson was a co-winner in 2008. That gives Naples the most Winged Foot winners.

"It's really special to carry on the tradition of Naples High scholar-athletes," Avery said. "This award is really prestigious. I'm really blessed to have gotten it. It's nice to be recognized."

The Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Foundation will give $5,000 to each finalist from Collier County high schools. Avery receives a $10,000 scholarship — $2,500 a year for four years; the other finalists receive one-time stipends.

Graduating seniors from Collier County high schools were eligible for the award, which was first given in 1990 by the Collier Athletic Club.

Avery's parents, Matthew and Maureen, and brother, Billy, who is on the autistic spectrum, were in attendance. Avery made a point of thanking her brother both in her acceptance speech and afterward.

"I have such a big support group in my family," she said. "(Billy) gets really antsy. I really appreciate him spending the long hours out there in the hot sun (at track meets). It's track so it's super long. He watches all of my races, so it's really nice. I just try to be the best role model I can for him."

Avery also credited many of her coaches and teachers, including track coaches Watkins and Stanley Bryant, and cross country coach Rich Haralson. Watkins was the coach who thought Avery would make a good 800-meter runner.

"Coach Watkins, she's always there for me," Avery said. "The amount of hours she puts in for me ... We do extra stuff that she doesn't have to be there to do."

"I personally feel she is very deserving because I see every day how hard she works and how much she gives and what she does, and it's just never-ending, her commitment and her focus," Watkins said. "In a sport where you don't get very much recognition, (winning the award) is awesome."

"Knowing her personally. how hard she's worked in the athletic field, as well as in the classroom, she deserves it," Bryant said. "It's awesome to see."

Each candidate was required to complete an extensive application process in order to be considered by their respective schools. Each school then determined its representative.

On April 30, the Winged Foot Selection Committee met and conducted informal interviews with each candidate. The committee then made its final decision, which was announced at the banquet.

Brett Clark of Barron Collier was the 2012 recipient.

Past winners Terry Dean of Barron Collier, Shannon McGregor of St. John Neumann, and Ingrid Schumacher of Naples High were all in the audience Wednesday.

Kelly stressed that the student-athletes should carry forward peer accountability, appreciation for what they're being allowed to do in college, and achievements in both athletics and academics — all modeled after Kelly's "A" team for his players in South Bend.